I am grappling with this. After 2yrs of just crazy symptoms and dealing with it. I am recently diagnosed. I can’t believe I am here.
18 hours ago
Hi Ben, I know its rough. You are welcome here for support, friendship, and compassion It is a great site . I send you all the best and HUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS
Suzie
Hi Ben,
You are so lucky to have found this site so soon after being diagnosed. Accepting this is one of the hardest things you'll ever do. You will get there over time and as you learn about Fibro. I was diagnosed about 15 yrs ago and most of the time I can deal with it but once in a while it does get hard. I've done much better since finding this site. I suggest finding one or two things you feel would be helpful from the discussion list and read what's there. If you have questions put them to the group or to the moderators. There is a wealth of information among the group. Also when it's really hard this is a great place to vent.
I'll be keeping you in my prayers and sending you soft hugs
Dottie S
Thankyou. I just cant belive I am here. I had to find something. Too help.
Then… Well I guess I feel … How do I say inadequate. I will go with that.
So hard to hide my symptoms and work… Well they would run over me. I feel like there isnt any answers
And I search and search.
hi ben
ive had this illness 11yrs and i do struggle with it at times rite now is one of them all i can say is if you still working and being able to get about and do things go and do it enjoy it all once this flare up of mine is away i plan on having a nite out lol hope you have a lot of ppl around you who can help altho help and understanding are 2 different things thats why im on here have great family wonderfull husband butt sometimes they dont get me and ppl on here do thanks to them all and i hope you can get help from here too xxx
Hello Ben,
I,too, sometimes feel like that, can't believe I am here and that it is happening to me. Glad I found this site, have learnt a lot, and been guided to some really good articles. I just wish you well, don't be too hard on yourself, and do what suits you!
Take care, Anne
I appreciate the thoughts. My pride gets in my way…way hard to admit, unbelievable year.
I have had days, weeks. So much misery. And forgetting names I known 15 yrs or just no-functioning.
I should have give. Up. I think I just was so miserable I forgot to give up :-]
Welcome, Ben. This is a very informed and supportive community. We’re so glad you found us. Learning about and accepting your diagnosis is a process. You have support and aren’t alone. If you haven’t yet, check out our Fibro 101 guide up at the top navigational bar. There is a great deal of really useful information in the guide. And please feel free to reply to discussions or ask any questions. We’re here to help!
Laurie
Hi Ben. I am really sorry for your recent diagnosis. Accepting is really hard. It takes time. Talking with other fibro people will definitely help. Hang in there and remember you’re not alone.
Hi Ben, I am glad you reached out and posted a discussion. Fibro can be challenging but over time you will find things that help. I am someone who always liked to be in control and with Fibro that isn't an option. That was hard to accept but once I did I was much more settled emotionally. I try to live each day the best I can, I know I will have bad days/weeks but then things do get better. I keep stress as low as I can (not easy) and try to get good rest (not easy). I work hard to focus on all the positive things I can do. And this website has helped a lot, just talking to others who understand is a stress relief. Anyway, I hope you will keep reading and posting. Hugs.
Welcome Ben. Laurie is right, it is a process. It is a bit like grieving and happens in stages. When I was diagnosed 7 years ago I felt like I was in a fight and Fibro was the enemy. I spent hours on the internet trying to find the "answers" I needed to make it go away. Gradually I began to accept that there was no cure and I had to live with it. At first I felt like my body had betrayed me and I was so depressed I could hardly get out of bed. Then I decided to change my mind set and started telling myself that my body was still doing what it could to help me. So it started being me and my body against Fibro rather than me against my body. That was a turning point for me. Knowing that I was not alone was another big step. I am glad you are here.
Traci
Well. What a day. Thanks for the support. I will sleep on this and thanx again.
I see I have a long ways to go
Thanks all.
Welcome Ben. Great first step - posting about your feelings and concerns with this disease. I echo the others' comments that in time you will find a way to accept and work with disease, and lead a full and wonderful life. You might have to be creative in findings new ways to do things so you work within the boundaries of a fibro life but your life can be just as regarding as before. I think the hardest but most supportive act you can do for yourself is to find a way to accept the diagnosis. Fighting against it is tiring and a non winnable situation. I speak from experience as do all the others. I am so glad you found us and keep asking questions and seeking support. This is the best place to do this. Hugs and again, welcome.
Does cymbalta cause or increase anxiety. Seems to be affecting me…
Welcome to your second family we are here for you. Everyone of us here have had the crazy roller coaster ride of multi sickness. I’m starting to think that my local Walgreen’s thinks I’m crazy I’m always buying different meds for this or that. Your not alone in your fight and here you will get the tools to better help!
I just “tried” to search therapy. And I swear there are witch doctors for fibro/cfs.
How do I find real treatments?
Hi Ben, if you haven't already, you can read the Treating Fibromyalgia article in the Fibro 101 guide, it highlights different treatment options. You can also search reputable websites such as WebMD, Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins for treatment information. You are very correct, there are a lot of "doctors" and people who claim "miracle cures" or "treatments" for Fibro so it is wise to be cautious. Currently there is no cure for Fibro but there are things you can do to help manage symptoms / pain. Please keep us updated. Hugs.
Hi Ben. Ihave been on Cymbalta for about 5 years and I found that the first 3 weeks were pretty rough. I don't remember feeling alot of anxiety but I had a headache for the entire 3 weeks as well as nausea. Let your doctor know you are having this side effect. If he feels it is ok to continue try to focus on getting through those 3 weeks. Cymbalta has helped me in a big way with most of my symptoms. Hang in there, finding the right meds is difficult but once to find the right combination you will start feeling better and more in control of your life once again.
Traci
Hi Ben,
I was just diagnosed by my Rhuemy the end of September. This is a great place to learn a lot.
Good luck and if you need support, you are at the right place.
QW
Hi ben,
I read a little of your profile after reading your post that started this thread.
Though I was first diagnosed with 'fibrositis' as a child (around 10 - 11 years old), I more or less forgot about it as I grew up (though I had symptoms) and it was only in the last 18 months that I was told by one of my doctors that I have definately got Fibromyalgia as well as the ataxias I am affected by (that's another story).
It can be really difficult to accept, deal with or come to term with such an illness or health condition as Fibromyalgia. I 'hear' you on that - I really do! What can be worse is coming to such a condition later in life. We work hard, we play, we establish our routines and think we have this 'life' thing cracked. Suddenly, with all the grace of a half house brick in a wet sock flung at us, we are hit with a condition that throws our established ways into disarray. Worse still is when we are hit with an 'invisible' condition such as Fibromyalgia. That is; Fibromyalgia patients can seem to others to have no visible signs of ill heath - no scars, no missing limbs, no other marking to outwardly show our ill health. Add to all that the general feeling of some that Fibromyalgia is a womens illness and we blokes really have it bad! I do not no if you have experienced negativity from others that cannot 'see' you are ill and hope you never do! To be blunt - it SUCKS.
The thing is Ben, Fibromyalgia will present many problems. I fully understand when you write about feeling inadequate. When you write about hiding your symptoms at work I know just how you feel too - I worked in a shop for eight years where I was responsble for taking in heavy deliveries and then as a warehouse man and later warehouse team leader for two years where I moved large wooden beams by hand daily. Towards the end of those working years into the time where my doctors realised there was something badly wrong with my health, I did feel inadequate, I found it really hard to hide my symptoms and harder to explain to my colleagues, friends and family why I felt so very fatigued and such all the time.
Now then, I do not want to frighten anyone or make out that all is bad or we are all doomed with or because of all this negativity. I just wanted to get it out of the way.
I'm so glad for you that you seem to have found this site sooner rather than later. I'm sure you will find much help and good information offered up by the forum users. Some users will lead you to interesting or helpful articles online. Some will share their experiences. Others will simply 'be there' for you and, for me at least, that is often more than enough to put things right.
I sincerely hope that you can find a way to cope with the problems Fibromyalgia throws at you. I'm sure, as has been mentioned by other, that you will 'get there'. Try to find the positives where you can and not dwell too much on the negative. I know it is hard to do that but I also know, very well, that letting the negatives get at us too much can be a very bad thing.
Wishing you well, kind regards,
Michael.